EDISON--In voting by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference head coaches, sophomore Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) of the Rider University softball team was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team it was announced on Friday afternoon.

Breeden made the squad as the designated player.

"Allison has a well earned reputation," said head coach Tricia Carroll who is beginning her 19th season at Rider. "I know she will work hard throughout the season to be First Team All-MAAC selection at the end of the season in May."

An Elementary Education and Integrated Sciences/Math major, Breeden was the 2012 MAAC Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-MAAC selection after earning MAAC Rookie of the Week honors three times.

Breeden started all 54 games as a freshman, one of two Broncs to start every game and led the team in home runs (3), walks (14), doubles (8), total bases (63) and runs batted in (27) and was second in batting average (.277).

Breeden had 15 multi-hit games for the Broncs in 2012.

Rider opens the 2013 season at the Hampton Inn Pirate Classic, hosted by East Carolina February 8-10.

The Broncs play Towson and the host Pirates on Saturday and Cleveland State and Ohio University on Sunday.

The home opener is scheduled for March 13 when the Broncs face future conference rival Monmouth University in a single game at 3pm at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus.

Fairfield was picked to win the MAAC, followed by Marist with Canisius and Siena predicted to tie for third place. Iona was picked fifth, followed by Niagara and Manhattan.

Rider was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team conference, followed by Saint Peter's.

The Broncs return 10 letterwinners, including eight starters for Carroll. Last season, Rider finished 20-33-1, 7-9 in the MAAC.